I look after Kew's extensive alpine bulb collection, including the Juno Irises.

Repotting the bulbous collections annually.
Sowing bulb seed and growing on germinated seedlings to adult stage.
Maintaining the collections to a high standard for display in the Davies
Alpine House, and making sure the collections are kept fresh by re
sowing.

Developing exhibits for horticultural and
educational events and demonstrating propagation techniques for
horticulture students from Kew and UK horticultural colleges.

Supporting the MSB by taking part in seed
collecting expeditions. Growing and developing horticultural protocols
for plants from the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, and producing
plants for display at Kew and DNA collection.

Working with colleagues in the Falklands to
propagate native species for sale to the public and restoration of
degraded habitats and raising public awareness of native species
conservation within the Falklands.

I have also been on several seed collection
expeditions. Spain looking at Narcissus triandrus. Tajikistan, on a
joint project with Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, Collecting seed and bulbs
in the mountains and collaborating with Botanists in Khorog and in
Kulob. Also collaborating with Botanists in Azerbaijan and collecting
live material there too. I organise the Harlow Early spring show for
the Alpine Garden society which is a very popular spring show.

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Galanthus nivalis 'Viridapice'

February 21, 2018

Many of you have the impression that everything is always blooming always lovely in Denver. I suppose I have done a pretty good job of fooling you: last Sunday we had nearly 70F--and I was out in the garden, cutting back grasses and planting 200 pots of seedlings. By Monday morning the temperature had dropped to -4F (From 20C to -20C!). Such are the joys of the steppe climate. What are the chances my Mume which was opening its first flowers on Sunday has not been blasted?